Scalp fungus can be a real problem.
Having an itchy, dry scalp or scalp sores that doesn't seem to heal can be really frustrating, not to mention
embarrassing when you keep finding yourself itching your scalp and thinking "people must think I have nits..."
could be a sign of a fungal scalp problem.

Are you suffering from one of the
following symptoms:

a dry, itchy and red rash on the scalp?

scalp sores that seem little and insignificant and you find yourself
picking them and scratching them?

or even big open gaping wounds on the scalp like infected
abscesses?

hair falling out in patches, it just seems to break at the
scalp?

black dots on the scalp in between the hair follicles?

scaly lesions on the scalp that may be red and swollen?

You are probably concerned about what is happening on your head,
but if your symptoms have not yet gotten out of hand, you may be waiting to see if it passes over by itself. And
indeed it sometimes can. Most often though, it becomes a persistent problem and sometimes worsen into a really
serious problem.

These are all symptoms of scalp fungus also referred to as
ringworm of the scalp and tinea capitis. Ringworm pictures are very helpful
resources allowing you to see the symptoms visually.

A fungal scalp infection can be very tricky to deal with. The
first step I suggest is to look at what you are doing to your scalp at the moment. Check the products you are
putting into your hair and their ingredients. Some of these products may promise relief from various scalp
conditions, but the ingredients list and warnings are where the true information is found.

May cause skin irritation

Avoid contact with eyes

Should not be swallowed

These types of warnings would indicate that the product may
aggravate the skin rather than soothe and heal scalp conditions.

Common ingredients in shampoo is Sodium Laurel Sulphate and Sodium Laureth Sulphate
and are often referred to as SLS. These are ingredients serving two purposes. Firstly they lather up the shampoo
and create a lot of bubbles. It gives us that lovely sensation of getting clean hair. Secondly they work as a
degreaser and remove any oil from the scalp. They are also used in industries for degreasing engines. In fact they
are the main ingredients in dish wash detergent.

There are other ingredients in hair care products that are well
worth avoiding. Paraben is one such ingredient added to a lot of skin and hair care products as a preservative.
Parabens is known to cause skin irritations and contact dermatitis in people with paraben allergies. More
disturbingly, research in the UK has found high content of paraben in breast tumors, indicating that there may be a
connection between paraben and breast cancer.

What happens to your scalp when you wash your hair with this?
Well, you get degreased! All the natural oils that protect your scalp from the elements disappear along with the
dirt and grime. Your scalp may then go into overdrive an start producing more oil to replace the ones that was
stripped away and you end up thinking you have greasy hair and then you do it all over again. Alternatively, your
scalp may just give up and stop producing oil altogether.

Without the natural oils, your scalp can not maintain a natural PH balance and your
scalps natural defence mechanisms disappear leaving your scalp wide open for scalp fungus or ringworm of the scalp to invade. You are basically stripping your scalp of its own natural healing
power.

So what does your scalp really need? There are natural organic shampoos and
conditioners on the market that will treat your scalp and hair very gently, yet leave it nice and clean. I
personally use an Australian brand, [A'kin], that is quite costly, but because I only need to wash my hair
every two to three days, were as with sls containing shampoo I have to wash once a day, in the end, I spend
about the same amount of money.

Once you have stopped fighting your scalp, it is time to give
your scalp a boost to help re-establish its natural ability to fight off unwanted infections and restore its own
healing power. It is also time to soothe and heal that abused scalp, and time to get rid of that scalp
fungus that is plaguing you.

There are powerful natural remedies available to help soothe
the scalp as well as to heal the scalp. Natures own healing properties are an amazing resource that we can tap into
from home. Pure essential oils are extracted from plants and just as plants have natural healing
properties, so does their oils. By choosing the oils for their healing abilities, we can narrow down a
list of appropriate oils for treating
scalp fungus and soothe the dry itchy red scalp.

Benzoin Oil comes from the Styrax
Tonkinensis tree. It has a vanilla like fragrance and is used for treating many kinds of skin lesions. Known
as Friar's Balsam it has been used to treat cracked toes by ballet dancers and prevent
further cracking. It is great for itching and boosts skins elasticity, while calming redness, itchiness and
irritations. It is also a sedative.

Bergamot Oil
comes from the fresh peel of a small orange , Citrus Bergamia. It is especially beneficial for oily skin and
is used to relieve symptoms of eczema, dermatitis, acne and cold sores. Lately it has been found to have excellent
antifungal properties.

Citronella
Oil comes from a scented grass called Cymbopogon Nardus. It is mainly used as an insect
repellant, but also has antiseptic and deodorizing value. Citronella Oil has been found to be an
effective agricultural fungicide inhibiting aspergillus flavus.

Eucalyptus Lemon Oil comes from Eucalyptus Citriodora and is an antibiotic,
antiseptic, antiviral and antifungal. Great for dandruff, sores, candida, fungal infections, cradle cap and
skin infections. Not to be confused with Eucalyptus Oil and Eucalyptus Radiata Oil.

Geranium Oil comes from the Pelargonium Gravolens plant and helps reduce
scarring, promotes regeneration of new cells and helps the skin normalise the output of the oil and therefore
is great for balancing both dry and oily skin. Geranium oil can also be helpful to treat bruises.

German Chamomile Oil comes from the flower of Matricaria Chamomilla. A
soothing, calming and anti-inflammatory oil and is great for dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and for sensitive, red
or dry skin.

JojobaOil comes from the Simmondsia Chinensis plant and is pronounced "Ho-ho-ba". It is
usually used as a base or carrier oil and as it has antifungal properties and has high absorption rate,
it is highly recommended for use in fungal scalp infections. It is also great for use on skin else
where on the body to treat sores, cuts, bruises and burns.

Palmarosa Oil balances moisture in skin. Cooling and antiflammatory, good for
eczema and dermatitis. Also antiviral and antifungal.

Patchouli Oil is used as hair conditioner
for dreadlocks. Reduces acne, eczema, fungal infections and dandruff.

Rosemary Oil
is an invigorating oil. It icreases circulation to the scalp and is a hair booster. It also
helps improve memory and mental fatigue.

Tea Tree Oil
is one of the most effective oils in combating fungal scalp infections. This is due to its high content of the
antifungal property terpinen-4-ol.

Ylang-Ylang
Oil soothes itching and helps against dandruff.

Care must be taken when dealing with essential oils as some oils
can cause adverse effects. Pregnant women should avoid the use of many oils
and some oils can cause photosensitivity.

And
don't forget that fungal scalp infections are highly contagious and can be transmitted either through contact with
infected animals, infected people or infected items, such as towels, pillows and hairbrushes. In order to
get rid of ringworm it is important to make sure you identify any other
infestations in your household, both with the rest of the family as well as the pets. Cleaning sheets, pillow
cases, toys and towels goes a long way to stop ringworm from spreading and reappear.